MTL - American Fame and Fortune-Chapter 774 Not afraid of eating, drinking and having fun, but afraid of making progress and starting a business

Chapter 774: If you are not afraid of eating, drinking and having fun, you are afraid of making progress and starting a business

Amid the wave of public opinion criticizing Johnny Depp, a piece of news in the media did not attract much attention.

Annapurna Pictures declared bankruptcy less than three years after its establishment.

Due to defaulting on bank loans, the company's assets were applied for preservation by the bank. Among them, the most valuable part was the copyright of several films.

Three films have been completed, including "The Lone Ranger" and "Transcendence", which were released, and "The Seventh Son", which could not find a suitable distributor.

One film currently in post-production is "Lights Out" directed by Kathryn Bigelow.

In addition, Megan Ellison’s bank loan involvement is as high as US$250 million.

 It is very difficult for ordinary people, even ordinary billionaires, to repay this money.

Megan Ellison also has no such ability.

At this time, the advantage of having a good father came to the fore. Larry Ellison personally took action to settle Megan Ellison's debt.

An award-winning film often costs tens of millions of dollars. Even if it gets several Oscar nominations, the box office will only be a few million dollars.

Megan Ellison turned back abruptly and said, "Let's go."

 For banks, if the film cannot be cashed in, there is no point in keeping it in their hands.

The Annapurna Pictures of this world chose the commercial path, but fell into the huge pit of Johnny Depp.

 But the condition is that Megan Ellison must leave Hollywood and return to San Francisco.

As he was approaching the airport, Megan Ellison received a message about banking.

 Dreit, who was driving, stopped the car.

 …

Megan Ellison lowered the car window and looked at the Annapurna Films office building opposite. After leaving today, it would be difficult to come back.

This also corresponds to the saying that the super rich are not afraid of their children eating, drinking and having fun, but they are afraid that their children will make progress and start a business.

Megan Ellison came out of the foyer of the office building and got into the car. Not far after the car drove out, she said: "Stop."

 Harris Carter had just returned to Los Angeles from New York and immediately came over to see Martin.

 Behind Annapurna Pictures' great victory at the Oscars, it was a complete commercial failure.

Several commercial vehicles suddenly stopped at the entrance of the office building. A group of people led by Judith got out of the car and took over the small building.

 Arts awards do not keep studio companies alive.

But the Oscars are no longer the Oscars of the 1980s and 1990s. It is no longer possible to win awards simply for the taste of old white men. In the LGBT era that has rapidly evolved, the films that the Oscars appreciate are completely divorced from the majority of audiences and basic market laws.

After the bank took over the few remaining assets of Annapurna Pictures, it announced that it was preparing to sell the rights to "The Seventh Son" and "Hunter".

Ten billionaires can't stand the sinkhole dug by such a lofty-minded daughter. They can fill it up once, but they will vomit blood again.

 Burbank Davis Studio.

In another world that Martin experienced, Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures followed the Oscar-winning route and was the most successful awards season company after Weinstein Pictures. It received 52 Oscar nominations alone. item.

The car drove towards the airport. Larry Ellison sent a private plane to Los Angeles to pick up Megan Ellison and return to San Francisco.

 The several-month acquisition and sale journey has been fruitful.

"Hi, Boo." Harris said hello to Bruce first, then pulled out a chair and sat across from Martin. He took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to Martin: "All the details and documents are in it. "

 Martin opened it and flipped through it quickly.

Harris briefly introduced: “During this period, I used various shells to purchase many of Depp’s assets at low prices, including Depp’s ocean-view villa in Malibu, the super apartment occupying the entire top floor of the Columbia Building, and the apartment on the Upper East Side of New York. A duplex apartment, a villa in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, a wine estate in Bordeaux, and that antique two-masted yacht.”

 Martin nodded slowly, these are worth a lot of money.

Harris added: "We are not the only ones who are eyeing Depp, but also some businessmen. Depp's hillside villa in Beverly, the castle in London, the farm in Kentucky, as well as his collection of famous wines and many arts The goods and vintage cars fell into the hands of others.”

Martin said: “It’s pretty good to win these.”

Harris said with a smile: "We were the first to get the news, as well as Depp's asset details, and we kept an eye on them, so we had some advantages."

 Bruce also participated in this acquisition and investment, and he was inevitably curious and asked: "What have been sold now?"

Harris introduced: "The antique two-masted yacht was sold to JK Rowling, the villa in the 16th arrondissement of Paris was sold to French actress Léa Seydoux, the wine estate in Bordeaux was sold to an Eastern star, and the Columbia Building The penthouse was sold to Sandra Bullock for a total profit of $25.77 million.”

He paused slightly and added: "We are currently negotiating with a singer about the transaction of a duplex apartment in New York's Upper East Side; several wealthy people from South Asia are interested in purchasing a sea-view villa in Malibu, and we are still discussing the details."

Martin nodded: "You moved quickly, thank you for your hard work." As the actual manager, Harris also received additional compensation in addition to the shareholding.

The two were chatting, and Bruce's cell phone rang. He took it out, looked at it, and added: "The latest news is that the bank has taken over Annapurna Pictures and is preparing to sell off Annapurna Pictures' assets."

He looked at Martin: "Including "Seventh Son", and "Lights Out" which Kathryn Bigelow is currently in post-production on."

Martin said directly to Harris: "You contact the bank and try to buy these two films. The maximum price of "Seventh Son" is 30 million US dollars. If the price exceeds this price, you will give up directly."

Hindered by "The Lone Ranger" and "Transcendence", "The Seventh Son" is difficult to find a distributor to screen in theaters on a large scale, and its profit prospects are not optimistic.

Even if a distributor is found, it is impossible for the distributor to invest too many resources in this film.

 Martin’s target is Netflix, and he is still confident of selling it to Netflix for US$40 million.

 Harris took note of it.

Martin recalled the situation related to "Lights Out". In his previous life, the heroine of this film was Jessica Chastain. Because he had a few inserts in it, Jessica Chastain rejected Megan Ellison. Invitation, I didn't accept this role at all.

The director is James Cameron's ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow, but after "Lights Out", Martin does not remember Kathryn Bigelow directing other works.

 From this aspect, the profit prospects of the film are not good.

 Martin called Jessica and asked Jessica to check. The production cost of "Lights Out" was US$40 million. He told Harris: "For another one, the highest bid will not exceed US$20 million."

Harris said: "When these kind of bad assets are realized, banks usually sell them below cost. I stayed in Los Angeles during this period and specialized in handling these businesses in Los Angeles."

 Martin was not polite to him either: "Okay, let's act quickly."

 Harris did not stay long, left the studio, and contacted his subordinates to make preparations.

Martin immediately left the office, crossed the overpass spanning ABC TV and Disney Studios, entered Disney Studios, and prepared to go to the "La La Land" studio to rehearse singing and dancing.

This film will feature a lot of singing and dancing scenes. If you want to achieve the best results, you will need to practice hard in the early stage.

 Before entering the piano room, Martin suddenly received a call from overseas.

 “Hello, is this Mr. Davis?” the other side asked cautiously.

 Martin said: "Hello, I am Martin."

The other side quickly introduced himself: "I am Clara, Mr. Davis, do you remember me? Last year you came to Seoul for the premiere, and Samsung held a grand welcome party for you and Director Ridley Scott. I was also there, and when you left the party, I exchanged contact information with you.”

 Martin had almost forgotten about it, but after her reminder, he remembered it.

 I remember that she once came to the United States to study and could speak fluent English.

  Martin said: "I remember you, a beautiful lady... Well, do you have anything to do with me?"

 Clara's voice was full of surprise: "My contract with the agency here has expired, and I'm having some difficulties signing another contract. I want to go to Hollywood to try my luck. I don't know anyone else in Hollywood, so I had to call you."

 Martin understood what these words meant as soon as he heard them. Without certain connections, even if many star actors from other countries came to Hollywood, it would be difficult to find suitable opportunities, let alone someone like Clara who was not well-known.

He thought about it for a moment and said: "The brokerage company I work for, WMA, has opened a branch in East Asia. You can join WMA and develop business outside your home country."

  It is not an exaggeration to say that the entertainment industry in Bangzi is a slave. Clara had the opportunity to jump out and go to Hollywood without any hesitation: "Martin, I will listen to you."

 Martin gave Clara a call: "If you want to join the WMA and contact this person, do this first."

 The two hung up the phone.

 Martin entered the studio and happened to meet director Damien Chazelle.

The latter stopped Martin and talked about an incident in the casting process: "Some time ago, Katherine Daddario came to the crew to audition and passed the audition for the role of Alexis. Mia was also accompanied by I have some thoughts on the choice of actors for the two supporting roles.”

 Martin nodded: "Just say it."

Damien Chazelle said: "For the other two roles, I think it is best to choose a black actress, a Latina or other ethnic actress, so that the film can avoid some criticism."

 Martin certainly understands that this is a general development trend in the United States, and it is becoming more and more obvious now.

It doesn’t matter which ethnic actor is chosen for the latter, but there must be a black actress.

 Martin agreed: “Yes.”

Damien Chazelle said: “I went to say hello to the casting team.”

 Martin went directly to the piano room, waited until the piano and dance practice was over, and received a call from Alexandrovich.

This guy just came back to Los Angeles from Europe, so he came over immediately.

 (End of this chapter)